"He wants to know if your Excellency will honor him by sitting near him."
The Captain's eye sparkled. Evidently it met his wishes. The Americans saw his delight.
"I should feel honored by sitting beside the illustrious stranger," said he. "It was what I came to ask. And will you allow the rest of these noble gentlemen to sit here and participate in your amusement?"
"The very thing," said Buttons, "which we have been trying to get them to do, but they won't. Now we are as anxious as ever, but still more anxious for the ladies."
"Oh, the ladies!" said the Captain; "they are timid."
Saying this he made a gesture, and five of his men came up. The whole six then sat with the five Americans. The Senator insisted that the Captain should sit by his side. Yet it was singular. Each one of the men still kept his gun. No notice was taken of this, however. The policy of the Americans was to go in for utter jollity. They sat thus:
The Captain.
The Senator.
Bandit Number 1.
Mr. Figgs.